FUCK THIS!
(or “Wow, apparently there are at least a few money-grubbing twits in the medical industry.”)
A family member needs a kidney and I’m a potential donor. The center that is handling the case made it clear that all charges will be billed to them. On the other hand, the biggest lab network in Austin doesn’t seem to want to play this way, and wants me to pay phlebotomy and shipping fees. Sure, they’re a business and can do whatever they want, but it seems apparent to me that they want to bill me directly because 1)they can, 2)I’m there and 3)they have a better chance of negotiating fees with an individual who is trying to help a sick relative than they have with a hospital. That I’m in good health (read, “not covered by insurance for this”) doesn’t seem to matter.
Judging by the responses I received from the processing lab and hospital staff (“WHAT!?” and an understated “That’s unusual”), they are one of the few, if not the only, lab that can’t bill the end patient. These guys have lost my business, yet they are my physician’s lab of choice. Hopefully my refusal to go to their office will not cause any problems at my next physical.
Hoo-boy.
Phlebotomy and shipping fees are almost never covered by anyone, period. Most of the time, they are written off (read: eaten) by the lab because they know they will not be reimbursed.
Advice: DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING from this lab. There is something called an “advance beneficiary notice” (ABN) that will make you responsible for the charges.
Find out if there’s some way you can be reimbursed on the back end from the donor agency. Phlebotomy charges can’t be much more than 10 bucks or so; that’s what insurance companies are billed, and it’s illegal to maintain more than one set of fees. I’m not sure how much the transport fees are, but again, they can’t be that much.
Better yet, tell 'em to bill you and send the bill on to the transplant agency.
Robin, who is very sick of entering 36415 (phlebotomy charge).
Actually, the transplant center recommended a startup lab in the same office building; I walked past their office to get on the elevator. I called them this afternoon, and they’re already familiar with the donor hospital and are willing to do the work. It sounds like they learned how to get the money with the last case.
Gee, isn’t the medical billing game fun? Even with the very few times that I have seen a doctor in my adult life, I’m strangely almost used to zeroing out my balance with my G.P. three or more times because my insurance carrier keeps backing out of payments, and then comes this!